Saudi Arabia cracks down on writers challenging MBS and his narrow vision - The Washington Post
▻https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/11/27/saudi-arabia-cracks-down-writers-challenging-mbs-his-narrow-vision
A new crackdown against young writers and bloggers in Saudi Arabia provides more evidence that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is feeling more and more empowered to terrorize his own citizens thanks to the continued support of his Western partners, most notably the current U.S. administration. President Trump’s unfaltering patronage has given the Riyadh carte blanche not only to get away with the murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi but also to detain activists and writers.
It is unclear what the charges against the new detainees are, although they have one thing in common: crimes of omission. They are all independent writers who have failed to provide zealous support for the prince and his new initiatives. Most of them were enthusiastic about the 2011 Arab uprisings but since the prince came to power in 2017 have remained silent and refrained from criticizing his policies.
Clearly this was not enough. The prince wants all to praise his plans and join the propaganda machine that his coterie of aides presides over. His cult of personality is pervasive and all-encompassing. It has become sacrosanct, above all criticism and in constant need of being worshiped by citizens. Those who fail to pay homage to the “Son King” commit a crime by omission.